Benin - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Benin was 48.42 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 48.42 in 2020, while its lowest value was 9.28 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 9.28
1961 9.86
1962 10.47
1963 11.12
1964 11.80
1965 12.52
1966 13.28
1967 14.07
1968 14.90
1969 15.78
1970 16.69
1971 17.65
1972 18.65
1973 19.69
1974 20.78
1975 21.90
1976 23.08
1977 24.29
1978 25.55
1979 26.68
1980 27.34
1981 28.01
1982 28.69
1983 29.38
1984 30.09
1985 30.80
1986 31.52
1987 32.25
1988 32.99
1989 33.73
1990 34.49
1991 35.25
1992 35.83
1993 36.14
1994 36.45
1995 36.76
1996 37.07
1997 37.39
1998 37.70
1999 38.02
2000 38.33
2001 38.65
2002 39.04
2003 39.54
2004 40.04
2005 40.54
2006 41.05
2007 41.56
2008 42.07
2009 42.58
2010 43.09
2011 43.61
2012 44.13
2013 44.64
2014 45.17
2015 45.70
2016 46.23
2017 46.77
2018 47.31
2019 47.86
2020 48.42

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization